Acid source study eagerly awaited by industry

Parts of the Queensland mining sector are sweating on a report outlining options to source acid. Acid is an important part of the benefaction process. Phosphate producer Incitec Pivot has long been the beneficiary of production from the Mount Isa Acid Plant which sources sulphur from the nearby copper smelter. Main image: Mount Isa sulphuric acid plant The Mount Isa Acid Plant collects, then cleans sulphur dioxide before converting it first to sulphur trioxide, then to liquid sulphuric acid. The liquid acid is then railed to Phosphate Hill in specially designed GATX wagons. The Sulphuric Acid Plant has the capacity to produce 3,700 tonnes per day. The Mount Isa Acid Plant employs around 40 personnel on site. The smelter is scheduled for closure in 2030 as part of a rationalisation of copper operations in line with the depletion of ore bodies which have been mined for generations. The Queensland Acid Study was launched at the World Mining Congress earlier this year and investigates the options including importing suphuric acid, continuing to make acid locally and producing elemental sulphur for benefaction on-site. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) says the preference among its members is having a locally sourced product. Related: Where the future lies for the Isa smelter Members have had input into the study which is expected to be released early next year said AMEC general manager of operations, Kate Dickson. “The main members that we are talking to about this process are the vanadium companies,” Ms Dickson said. “There are other member companies that need sulfuric acid and they're all around Queensland and so are the sources. “So yes, they're keen to secure supply and get the type of acid that they need for their operations.” Tailings dams in the north west could prove to be part of the solution with a reclamation process which would yield elemental sulphur. Research into mining tailings led by Broken Hill company Cobalt Blue has entered into the production test phase with sulphur production part of the outcome. Related: North West Queensland Economic Diversification Strategy There were a number of issues to be considered including ESG outcomes said Ms Dickson. “… what the demand profile is, what the supply opportunity is, what the ramp down and ramp up will be, charting the assets coming off and the ones coming on. “I hope there are a number of different processing techniques considered around sulphur production and consideration for different types of sulphur product. “Given that each company has different requirements for elemental sulphur and sulfuric acid, we need enough scope to cater for a variety of scenarios.” The Queensland Acid Study is part of the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy.

Acid source study eagerly awaited by industry

Industry Queensland

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